Loose leaf construction



May 31, 1965 c. w. DAVIDSON 3,253,602

LOOSE LEAF CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 1'?, 1963 INVENTOR. r Char/.5 M/W/fof? 2; Eg. 11 BY g Afm/wey.

United States Patent O M 3,253,602 LOOSE LEAF CONSTRUCTION Charles W. Davidson, 720 N. 20th St., St. Joseph, Mo. Filed Oct. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 316,972 3 Claims. (Cl. 129-18) This invention relates to new and useful improvements 1n loose leaf construction, and has as its principal object the provision of a loose leaf construction in which filler sheets are secured releasably in a binder or cover in a.

midline corresponding to the position of the base portions of said tabs, longitudinally of the rear folder edge. The slots of said filler sheet are thus adapted to be engaged over said tabs, and moved to engage the base portions thereof, only by moving said filler sheet parallel to the rearward binder edge. At least one of the tabs is formed to provide a locking tab which is divergently wider at its outer end than at its base, whereby it must be folded or bent to enter its corresponding filler sheet slot, but which once so inserted functions to prevent movement of the filler sheet parallel to the rear binder edge, whereby the filler sheet is secured on all of the tabs.

Another object is the provision of a loose leaf construction as described above in which the tabs are divided iuto two sets which are respectively oppositely inclined relative to the rear binder edge, whereby said tabs may be positioned to receive a yfiller sheet only by bending the binder along a line transverse to the rearward edge thereof, and intermediate the two sets of tabs.

A further object is the provision of a loose leaf construction as described above wherein all of the tabs are outwardly divergent to form locking tabs as described, whereby the filler sheets are still more firmly secured.

A still further object is the provision of a loose leaf construction as described above wherein said tabs are formed which will appear in the course of the specification, refl erence will be had to the accompanying drawing, where- FIG. 1 is a laid out face view of a binder cover formed according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a laid out face View of a filler sheet formed according to the present invention, with portions broken away,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line III-lll of FIG. l, with the binder folded to form the tabs,

PIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line IV-IV of FIG. 3, with a ller sheet partially inserted in the binder,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the parts as shown in FIG. 4, with the locking tab bent to permit full insertion of the filler sheet into the binder,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 4, with several ller sheets inserted in the binder and the binder closed,

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a modification of the binder,

3,253,602 Patented May 3l, 1966 ACe FIG. S is an enlargedfrag-mentary sectional view taken on line VIII-VI-II of FIG. 7,

lFIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IX-IX of FIG. 7, with a ller sheet inserted therein,

FIG. 10 is a view similar -to FIG. 4, with a ller sheet insrted, and showing a modified arrangement of tabs, an

FIG. 11 is a View similar to FIG. 1U showing the binder folded to receive a iiller sheet therein.

Like reference numerals apply to similar .parts throughout the several views, and in the form of the invention s-hown in FIGS. 1 6, the numeral 2 applies generally to a binder formed of a single sheet of tough Ibut iieXible ma' terial such as cardboard or fiberboard. Said .binder forms a front cove-r 4 and a rear cover 6 hingedly joined along the rearward edge of the binder by a fold line 8 bisecting the binder sheet. A series of angled, chevron-shaped slots 10 are formed along t-he midline of the binder, said slots being regularly spaced, of identical size and shape, and so disposed that 4fold line 8 bisects the angles thereof, as best shown in FIG. 1. The edges of said slots which intersect fold line 8 are thus V-shaped, with the apexes of the Vs all pointing in the same direction. At the lower edge of the binder, a notch 12vis cut therein in alignment with slots 10, and is of the same width as said slots. The edge of said notch which intersects fold line 8 is also V-shaped, but points in the opposite direction from the edges of slots 10. The binder is also provided with a pair of fold lines 14 and 16 which are parallel to and spaced equally from fold 8 respectively at opposite sides thereof, and are aligned respectively with the lateral l edges of slots 10 and notch 12.

In use, the binder is folded inwardly along fold line 8, and outwardly along fold lines 14 and 16, as best shown -in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows front cover 4 and back cover 6 laid out flat for receiving'ller sheets as will be described, but it will be understood that they may be folded upwardly toward each other in the manner of the covers of a book. When the binder is folded as shofwn in FIG. 3, it will be seen that the connecting strips 18 of binder material between slots 10 (see FIG. 1) form upwardly projecting tabs of a double thickness. Due to the original shape of slots 10, tabs 18 are inclined acuately to the center fold of the binder, as best shown in FIG. 4. Tha-t is, one longitudinal edge 20 thereof is undercut in that it is inclined acuately to the center fold of t-he binder, and the other longitudinal edge 22 thereof is generally parallel to edge 20. It is immaterial whether edge 20 is straight as shown, so long as it is undercut, and so long as edge 22 is generally parallel thereto so that the entire tab is generally inclined. The strip 24 of binder material between notch 1-2 and the adjacent slot 1) (see FIG. 1) also forms a tab when the binder is folded as in FIG. 3, tab 24 having one edge 26 parallel to edges 20 of tabs 18, and its other edge 28 inclined acuately but oppositely with respect to the rear binder edge, whereby said tab is dovetail in shape, being narrower at the edge thereof connected to the binder covers than at the edge thereof defined by fold line S. Tabs 1S will be termed retaining tabs, while tab 24 will be termed a locking tab.

A filler s-heet adapted for use in the binder described above is shown in FIG. 2 and designated generally .by the Vnumeral 30.- It consists of a sheet of paper` or the like having a size equal to two pages of the size adapted for use in the binder, sa-id sheet being divided along its midline by a fold line 32 to divide it into pages 34 and 36. A series of slots 38 are formedv therein along fold line 32, said slots being positioned and proportioned to be engaged over retaining tabs 18. Also formed in the filler sheet, in alignment with slots 38, is a slot 40 for engag- 3 ing locking tab 24. It will be seen that the lo-ngitudinal length of each slot 38 and 40, in a direction par-allel to fold line 32 is generally equal to the width of the tab 18 or 24 over which it is to be engaged, in lche salme direction, at the portion orf said tab connected to the front and back binder covers, or along the fold lines 14 `and v16.

To insert filler sheets in the binder, the binder is iirst folded along lines 8, 14 and 16 and laid out at on a desk or the like as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, whereupon the tabs 18 and 24 extend upwardly. Filler sheet 30, laid out horizontally as in FIG. 2, isthen placed over the binder so that tabs 18 enter slots 38 of the filler sheet, as shown in FIG. 4, the liller sheet settling over tabs 18 to rest directly on the binder covers, as shown in FIG. 4. To accomplish this, the filler sheet must move downwardly along the incline of tabs 18, which necessitates horizontal movement of the sheet in a direction parallel to the center fold of the binder. This positions the connecting strips 42 of the iiller sheet which extend between slots 38 beneath the undercut and overhanging edges 20 of tabs 18, also as shown in FIG. 4. However, locking tab 24 of the binder cannot at this time enter slot 40 of the filler sheet, since the slot is proportioned to engage the narrow base portion of said tab, and the outer portion of said tab is wider. To complete the insertion, locking tab 24 is grasped manually and bent on itself as shown in FIG. 5. In general configuration, said locking tab is -then substantially the same as that of retaining tabs 18, so that it may enter slot 40 and allow the ller sheet to fall to rest on the binder. The locking tab is then allowed to recover its normal shape, and the insertion is complete. Additional sheets may be inserted in like manner, although the binder is not-particularly adapted to hold a great number of ller sheets. Locking tab 24 prevents the filler sheet from moving longitudinally of the line of tabs, so that strips 42 of the filler sheet are retained beneath the undercut edges 20 of retaining tabs 18, whereby the ller sheet is secured in the binder not only at the locking tab, but also at each of the retaining tabs. The binder may be opened, turned upside down, held only by the covers thereof, and shaken vigorously without dislodging the filler sheets, unless said sheets are actually torn out, although they may be removed at any time as desired simply by reversing the above described process of insertion.

Slots 38 of the filler sheet are relativelyy narrow whereby to engage retaining tabs 18 rather snugly and thereby defeat any tendency of the binder to unfold along line 8, while slot 40 of the filler sheet is` relatively broad in order to permit insertion of locking tab 24 therethrough, while said tab is folded on itself asin FIG. 5, without danger of tearing t-he iiller sheet around said slot. The binder is formed of material which is sufliciently tough, though iiexible, that the locking tab may be bent or folded a great number of times without losing: its strength or its ability to recover its normal shape when released. Moreover, it will be seen that whenever the binder is closed, as in FIG. 6, tabs 18 and 24 will be pressed firmly in the center of the resulting booklet, thereby tending to return the tabs to their normal positions and shapes even if they may have lost some of their resilience due to repeated exings.

Also, it may be desired to insert only a single page at at a time rather than two pages as heretofore contemplated. For this purpose the ller sheet is provided with two lines of perforation 44 and 46 parallel to and respectively at opposite sides of fold line 32 thereof, all of slots 38 and 40 being disposed between said lines of i perforation. If it is desired to insert only one page 34or 36, the undesired page is torn olf along the adjacent line 44 or 46, making sure that the slotted central por tion remains attached to the page it is desired to utilize.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a modification ofstructure wherein the binder 2 is divided into a front cover 4' and back cover 6 by a single central fold line 48, and wherein a tap strip 50 of iiexibly resilient material is secured thereto at one side of the fold line by any suitable means such as rivets 52, one edge of said tab strip being folded up and slotted to provide a series of tabs 54 corresponding generally to'tabs 18 and 24 of FIGS. 1-6. The use of a separate tab strip, rather than integral tabs as in FIGS. 1-6, is a somewhat more expensive construction, but has the advantage that sinceyonly the tab strip need be iiexibly resilient, the binder covers themselves may be rigid and non-flexible if desired. Also, it will be noted in FIG. 9 that all of tabs 54 are dovetail shape, corresponding to the shape of locking tab 24 in FIG. 4. Since the ller sheet 55 adapted for use in this folder also has slots 57 which correspond in length to the base widths of the tabs, it will be seen that all of the tabs, rather than just one as in FIGS. 1-6, must be bent or deformed to insert them in the filler sheet slots. While this form retains the filler sheet more securely than the species of FIGS. 1-6, in that the filler sheet is locked in at both ends of each of its slots, the insertion process is rather tedious and time consuming, and hence not well adapted to general loose leaf usage. Accordingly, the modification of FIGS. 7-9 is contemplated for usage in the permanent binding of booklets and the like, in which the insertion of the tabs is accomplished by a machine operation.

FIGS. 10 and l1 show a modied structure similar to that of FIGS. 1-6 in all respects, with corresponding parts being indicated by corresponding double-primed numerals, except that the tabs 56 thereof are all shaped correspondingly to retaining tabs 18 of FIG. 4, both edges of each being inclined acutely to the rear binder edge. Also, the tabs are divided into two sets disposed respectively above and below the horizontal midline of the binder. The upper set 58 of said tabs are each inclined toward the upper edge of the binder, and the lower set 60 of said tabs is inclined toward the lower edge of said binder. Since the filler-sheet 62 here again has slots 64 which correspond to the base widths of the tabs, it will -be seen that the ller sheet can be inserted only by vfolding the binder along a horizontal-line as shown in FIG. 1l, in order to move the upper or free ends of one set of tabs enough closer to the free ends of the other set of tabs to permit slots 64 to be engaged over all of said tabs. This operation is shown clearly in FIG. 5. When the sheet slots have been engaged over all of the tabs, the binder ycovers are allowed to return to their normal planar positions, and the filler sheet is securely locked in assembly therewith.

It will be readily apparent that the tabs could have the coniiguration shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, regardless of whether said tabs are formed integrally with the binder 2, as in FIGS. 1-6 and FIGS. 10 and 11, or inserted separately as parts of a tab strip or the like, as in FIGS. 7-9. It will be apparent also that the tabs may assume configurations other than those shown. The essence of the invention, as regards the tabs and their interlocking engagement with the filler sheets, is that at least one of the edges of each tab radiating from the hinge-line of the binder be undercut so that outer or free end of said tab overhangs the point of attachment of that edge of the tab to the binder, that the undercut edges of at least one pair of said tabs be disposed respectively at relatively opposite sides of the associated tabs, and

that the lengthof the filler sheet slots corresponds substantially to the width of the tabs at their points of attachment to the binder. It is considered that any change within this outline of the invention, as well as many other minor changes of structure and operation, could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A- loose leaf construction comprising:

(a) a binder consisting of front and back covers hingedly related along an axis dening the rearward edge of said binder, i

(b) a series of tabs hingedly attached in said binder along an axis coinciding generally with the hinge line of said covers and extending radially of said hinge line between said covers, at least one edge of each of said tabs extending from said hinge line being undercut whereby the free end portion of said tab, at that edge thereof, overhangs the point of attachment of that edge of the tab to the binder, said undercut edges of at least a pair of said tabs being disposed at relatively opposite sides of their associated tabs, said tabs being formed of resiliently exible material, all of said tabs except one being of no greater width, parallel to said hinge line, at any point thereof from its line of attachment to said binder to its outer end, than at its line of attachrnent to said binder, and wherein the remaining tab is substantially wider at its outer end than at its line of attachment to said binder, and

(c) a filler sheet for said binder, said filler sheet having a series of slots formed therein in a line and each engaged over one of said tabs, the length of each-of said slots, in a direction parallel .to said line, corresponding closely to the width of the corresponding tab, measured in a direction parallel to said hinge line, substantially along the line of attachment yof said tab to said binder.

2. A loose leaf construction comprising:

(a) a binder consisting of front and back covers hingedly related along an axis dening the rearward edge of said binder,

(b) a series of tabs hingedly attached in said binder each of said slots, in a direction parallel to said line, corresponding closely to the width of the correspondin7 tab, measured in a direction parallel to said hinge line, substantially along the line of attachment of said tab .to said binder. i

3. A loose leaf construction comprising: (a) a binder consisting of front and back covers hingedly related along an axis defining the rearward edge of said binder,

(b) a series of tabs hingedly attached in said binder (c) a ller sheet for said binder, said filler sheet having a series of slots formed therein in a line and each engaged over one of said tabs, the length of each of said slots, in a direction parallel to said line, corresponding closely to the width of the corresponding tab, measured in a direction parallel to said hinge line, substantially along the line of attachment of said tab to said binder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 along an axis coinciding generally with the hinge lzlgn line of said covers and extending radially of said 1,530,230 3/1925 Brown 129-18 hinge line between said covers, the opposite edges Y 2,116,078 5/1938 Mevi 129-18 of all of said tabs except one which extend out- 2,234,401 3/1941 Farkas 129-18 wardly from said hinge line being parallel and in- 2,250,018 7/1941 Gundell 281-21 clined acutely relative to said hinge line, each of 7 355 037 8/1944 Eni 120 18 said last named tabs being of generally uniform 1 zg FOREIGN PATENTS 2/ 1961 France. 12/1959 Great Britain.

width, the opposite edges of the remaining tab being outwardly divergent from the line of attachment of said tab to said binder, whereby said last named tab is Wider at its 4outer end than at its line of attachment to said binder, said tabs being formed of resil- WALTER A SCHEEL, primary Examl-er' muy exlbe material and JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner.

(c) a ller sheet for said binder, said filler sheet havting a series of slots formed therein in a line and CLYDE I. COUGHENOUR, Assistant Examiner.

each engaged over one of said tabs, .the length of 

1. A LOOSE LEAF CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: (A) A BINDER CONSISTING OF FRONT AND BACK COVERS HINGEDLY RELATED ALONG AN AXIS DEFINING THE REARWARD EDGE OF SAID BINDER, (B) A SERIES OF TABS HINGEDLY ATTACHED IN SAID BINDER ALONG AN AXIS COINCIDING GENERALLY WITH THE HINGE LINE OF SAID COVERS AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OF SAID HINGE LINE BETWEEN SAID COVERS, AT LEAST ONE EDGE OF EACH OF SAID TABS EXTENDING FROM SAID HINGE LINE BEING UNDERCUT WHEREBY THE FREE END PORTION OF SAID TAB, AT THAT EDGE THEREOF, OVERHANGS THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT OF THAT EDGE OF THE TAB TO THE BINDER, SAID UNDERCUT EDGES OF AT LEAST A PAIR OF SAID TABS BEING DISPOSED AT RELATIVELY OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEIR ASSOCIATED TABS, SAID TABS BEING FORMED OF RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, ALL OF SAID TABS EXCEPTS ONE BEING OF NO GREATER WIDTH, PARALLEL TO SAID HINGE LINE, AT ANY POINT THEREOF FROM ITS LINE OF ATTACHMENT TO SAID BINDER TO ITS OUTER END, THAN AT ITS LINE OF ATTACHMENT TO SAID BINDER, AND WHEREIN THE REMAINING TAB IS SUBSTANTIALLY WIDER AT ITS OUTER END THAN AT ITS LINE OF ATTACHMENT TO SAID BINDER, AND (C) A FILLER SHEET FOR SAID BINDER, SAID FILLER SHEET HAVING A SERIES OF SLOTS FORMED THEREIN IN A LINE AND EACH ENGAGED OVER ONE OF SAID TABS, THE LENGTH OF EACH OF SAID SLOTS, IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID LINE, CORRESPONDING CLOSELY TO THE WIDTH OF THE CORRESPONDING TAB, MEASURED IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID HINGE LINE, SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE LINE OF ATTACHMENT OF SAID TAB TO SAID BINDER. 